Farrell seeks high on-base percentage hitter

[adid727]

I haven't posted a thread in a long time, but here is a new one.

Farrell seeks high on-base percentage hitter

TORONTO -- Starting pitching is the Blue Jays' biggest need heading into the offseason, a point manager John Farrell continues to reiterate.

But the skipper would also like some help on the offensive end, too. Farrell is interested in a high-average, line-drive type hitter who doesn't strike out a lot.

He believes the team is adequate in terms of power, but getting another hitter that hits for more contact and has a high on-base percentage -- one of the stats Farrell values most -- would be ideal.

"I think any time you can lengthen out a lineup and upgrade, that's a plus," Farrell said. "Home runs, we have a number of guys that can drive the ball out of the ballpark."

The Blue Jays had the second-lowest on-base percentage in the American League, behind only the Mariners, and the club's .246 average entering play Tuesday was the fourth lowest mark in the AL.

Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista are the only two regulars that have an on-base percentage above .330 -- league average was .321 last season -- and three of the Blue Jays' starting players, catcher J.P. Arencibia, center fielder Colby Rasmus and shortstop Yunel Escobar, are below the .300 mark.

From bluejays.com

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news...k_tor&c_id=tor

the only guys i can think of on the free agent market are Juan Pierre, Ichiro Suzuki, Marco Scutaro(reunion?) and Kevin Youkilis(13 million team option which i don't think the CWS will pickup).

I think teams will overpay for Ichiro simply because of the media attention he gets from japan.

I'd love to have Juan Pierre, he has the speed we need, does not strikeout a lot and is an improvement over rajai davis in left.

With Kevin Youkilis, AA has to really get creative, we can put him on 3rd and move lawrie to 2nd, hechavarria will go to SS and escobar will become a trade chip for a SP.

Marco Scutaro is a guy who played here before, we know that he can succeed here, and he has been consistent ever since he left. We can put him in 2nd or 3rd.

What do you guys think?

[Farsight]

Honestly, none of the guys listed fulfill the teams need. Youkilis just had a terrible year and seems to be on the decline. Ichiro, Pierre, and Scutaro are at the point in their careers where they are best used as utility players. Ichiro is good defensively, but is horrible offensively. Pierre always got on base at a good rate throughout his career, but lacks power, and as a result as issues creating runs. None of the players solve any of our issue. I would not mind having Pierre has a 4th outfielder (we already have Davis) or Scutaro as a utility infielder, other than that... These players should not be substantial additions.

If you are looking for a good player who post OBP and can create runs, Swisher or Hunter should be our targets, as they fill a hole in left field. Moreover, we should look at Ortiz as our DH

[ILDD]

So to paraphrase Farrell - "Manager wants a good player on his team next year". Where is the news story?

And in terms of high OBP, Swisher or Hunter are good targets for LF and Ortiz would be amazing at DH.

[adid727]

Honestly, none of the guys listed fulfill the teams need. Youkilis just had a terrible year and seems to be on the decline. Ichiro, Pierre, and Scutaro are at the point in their careers where they are best used as utility players. Ichiro is good defensively, but is horrible offensively. Pierre always got on base at a good rate throughout his career, but lacks power, and as a result as issues creating runs. None of the players solve any of our issue. I would not mind having Pierre has a 4th outfielder (we already have Davis) or Scutaro as a utility infielder, other than that... These players should not be substantial additions.

If you are looking for a good player who post OBP and can create runs, Swisher or Hunter should be our targets, as they fill a hole in left field. Moreover, we should look at Ortiz as our DH

I thought of swisher and hunter, but they strikeout a lot, and i was being realistic since we are talking about rogers here. I hope i am wrong, but i don't think rogers will really open their wallets on big free agents. The guys i listed are little pieces that are affordable and can make a difference if placed in the right position in the lineup. Youkilis(he has a 346 obp with the CWS) if placed ahead of bautista will end up with a higher average and a lot of walks the way he keeps fouling pitches, and with bautista and EE behind him, i think we will score a lot of runs.

[Farsight]

I thought of swisher and hunter, but they strikeout a lot, and i was being realistic since we are talking about rogers here. I hope i am wrong, but i don't think rogers will really open their wallets on big free agents. The guys i listed are little pieces that are affordable and can make a difference if placed in the right position in the lineup. Youkilis(he has a 346 obp with the CWS) if placed ahead of bautista will end up with a higher average and a lot of walks the way he keeps fouling pitches, and with bautista and EE behind him, i think we will score a lot of runs.

Youkilis probably has most of his value at 3rd base because his offense is above average at that position, but he is horrible defensively. Furthermore, we already have Lawrie there. However, if you move him to 1b, his offense would be below average with an above average glove. Honestly, Youkilis is probably looking for a 1 year 8/10 million dollar contract and i might bite, but that means Encarnacion will be going back to DH. Id rather just have Ortiz as our DH and Encarnacion at 1B. I would still target one of Swisher/Hunter as our left fielder, Ortiz as our DH and maybe a 2nd basemen (the market is terrible)

[Sanyo]

FINALLY! FINALLLLY! What I have been advocating all this time on this forum -- get a guy who can just get ON BASE! Torri Hunter. David Ortiz. Justin Upton. Whomever. Guys with power but also get on base. Well I pray the Jays go out and get whomever.

[statquo]

I thought Kelly Johnson was supposed to get on base?

Doesn't matter who we bring in, we'll turn them into a 'homerun' hitter and he'll end up setting a career mark in K's.

[ah nuts]

"But the skipper would also like some help on the offensive end, too. Farrell is interested in a high-average, line-drive type hitter who doesn't strike out a lot."

as I was told emphatically,

someone needs to tell farrel that a high average means very little when judging players

[Farsight]

"But the skipper would also like some help on the offensive end, too. Farrell is interested in a high-average, line-drive type hitter who doesn't strike out a lot."

as I was told emphatically,

someone needs to tell farrel that a high average means very little when judging players

Im sure he knows that, however, the average fan does not lol. He needs to appeal to the majority, not the minority (us)

[Sanyo]

"But the skipper would also like some help on the offensive end, too. Farrell is interested in a high-average, line-drive type hitter who doesn't strike out a lot."



as I was told emphatically,

someone needs to tell farrel that a high average means very little when judging players

blame that murphy guy.

[ah nuts]

Im sure he knows that, however, the average fan does not lol. He needs to appeal to the majority, not the minority (us)

i still can't see how I could misunderstand a player using batting average, slg, OBP(walks)
but let's not start this again

[The_Jet11]

Scutaro is having a terrific year. He sees a ton of pitches, doesn't strike out that often, and was well spoken of in his previous time here. Might be a good character guy. I'd definitely be ok with bringing him in to play 2B for us on a two-year plus an option type of deal. To be honest, I'd be thrilled if we left the free agent pitching market alone, and added arms via trade only. Make 3 signings for the line-up but don't overpay for an arm unless you're 100% happy with the terms of the deal and your expectations in that pitcher.

Sign Ortiz to DH (2 years 25 million + CO for 3rd at 12 million)
Sign Melky Cabrera to play LF (1 year 11 million + CO for 2nd at 13 mil/1 mil buyout)
Sign Scutaro to play 2B (2 years 15 million + CO for 3rd at 5 million)

Then you can trade Rasmus/Gose/Marisnick, Arencibia/D'Arnaud, Escobar/Hechavarria plus which ever other prospects to land two SPs.

2B Scutaro R
LF Cabrera S
RF Bautista R
1B Encarnacion R
DH Ortiz L
3B Lawrie R
CF Rasmus L
C D'Arnaud R
SS Hechavarria R

Bench
OF Davis R
1B/DH Lind L
C Mathis R
SS/2B ____________

Trade Escobar + Norris + Stilson + Sierra to ARI for Kennedy
Trade Arencibia + to CHC for Garza

1) Kennedy R
2) Morrow R
3) Romero L
4) Garza R
5) Happ/Alvarez L/R

Looks like a solid enough rotation that given the upgrades to the line-up, we could compete.

Then if you can somehow package JOHN FARRELL with say Marisnick for Clay Bucholz, we'd really have some depth to offer a new manager.

Kennedy
Morrow
Bucholz
Romero
Garza

With Happ, Alvarez, Jenkins, Stroman and Laffey all fighting it out in AAA for the first call-up.

Unreal.

[heusy_79]

Ichiro on a short term deal is something I'd be fine with. Even though he's on the decline I think the positives out-weigh the negatives. He'd fill the gap at the lead-off spot, provide another much needed lefty bat, provide sound defense beside either Rasmus or Gose, and would lead to a significant increase in attendance. If Gose is dealt or starts in AAA, speed will be an issue, and Ichiro can still fly.

LF Ichiro
3B Lawrie
RF Bautista
DH Ortiz
1B Encarncion
CF Rasmus
2B Keppinger
C Arenciba
SS Hechavarria

M. Izturis
Mathis
Davis
Cooper/Loney--> A dark-horse guy for me to be a lefty bench bat/ defensive back up for EE at 1B

A dangerous line-up with a bit of everything, also would still have potential impact guys like d'Arnaud and Gose knocking on the door.

[2009mvp]

Ichiro, leadoff? In 2013? Yikes.

[Halladay]

I think some people still see Ichiro as the OBP machine he was in the past which he's clearly not anymore. If you thought Rasmus and Escobar were bad at the top of the order then you haven't seen nothin' yet. Better off plugging a rook like Gose in who's not even ready yet. One guy I've wanted here for years is Youkilis. He was a guy AA could have bought low on. He plays third and first and may not have the speed you want from a leadoff man but he'd be a hell of a guy to have in the 2 hole.